Radiata Stories: Refraction

Prologue

Humans and Non-Humans—two races that have existed since the beginning of time, with a tumultuous relationship that has always been strained. Nowhere was this more evident than in the recent events of the Second Human-Non-Human War (HNHWII). Led by the Kingdom of Radiata, humanity mustered its greatest fighting force to date, commanded by the Royal Radiata Knights. Augmented by the four guilds of Radiata—Warrior, Priest, Mage, and Bandit—the Humans forged an indomitable fighting spirit. Meanwhile, the Non-Humans, united under the Light Elves and their benevolent eternal leader, Zane, rallied the other Non-Human races for one final stand against the Human menace. Dwarves, displaced from their homes; Goblins, from the northern black and southern green regions; Orcs, both green and red; and the Dark Elves, cousins to the Light Elves, set aside their differences to oppose what they perceived as oppressive human forces.

In the end, both sides clashed repeatedly, sacrificing countless lives. Eventually, emissaries from both the Humans and the Non-Humans met beneath the Ressan Tree, at the border of Human and Elf lands. There, peace was negotiated, and the war came to an end with a mutual truce. Having lost so many of their fighting populations, both sides recognized that neither Humans nor Non-Humans could claim victory. Instead, they saw that the ongoing conflict would only weaken them further until they both ceased to exist entirely.

It's been over ten years since the war ended, and much has changed in the Human kingdom of Radiata. With so many soldiers slain, wounded, or missing, the kingdom struggled to maintain its safety. During this time, Ursula, a mage from the Vareth Magic Institute, approached the royal leadership with a proposal—a solution to bolster the severely weakened kingdom: golems. These artificial creations, enhanced by magical and renewable energy sources, were Ursula's masterpiece. She had spent years perfecting her designs. At first, the leadership of Radiata Castle hesitated, uncertain if they could trust such man-made creations to police the streets, guard the countryside, and patrol the sewers, not to mention form a military reserve.

However, with little choice left, King Jiorus himself greenlit the project, providing Ursula with the necessary funding. Within six months, the streets of Radiata were patrolled by vigilant golem protectors. These creations, similar to Ursula's earlier "Melissa" class models, were an imposing sight—magical mechanized giants, with massive statures and incredible strength. They could even be fitted with ladders and frames, allowing Royal Knights to ride them and assist in detaining criminals. At night, their operations were remarkably efficient, thanks to the powerful lamps mounted on their shoulders. The golems, nicknamed "Street Sweepers," became a familiar presence in Radiata.

The Street Sweeper model proved highly effective in its patrolling duties. Unfortunately, it wasn't designed to secure the sewers beneath the city, known as "The Path of the Spider." This never-ending labyrinth of tunnels carried the water and waste of Radiata's denizens, but it also hid many secrets: shrines, altars, hidden passageways, and toxic creatures born from magical waste. Ursula, with renewed funding and defense contracts, designed a new variant specifically for the sewers: the "Scum Patroller." Smaller in size, it could navigate the narrow passages and tight corners of the Path of the Spider. Equipped with similar technology as its predecessor, the Scum Patroller also boasted enhanced night vision, water and sludge resistance, and a specialized weapon loadout for dealing with the threats lurking in the depths.

Thanks to the implementation of these golems, crime on the surface of Radiata dropped drastically. Over the ten years following the war, the city saw a sharp decline in criminal activity. However, beneath the surface, in the city's underbelly, crime remained rampant. The Void Communities Bandit Guild, once restricted to the upper levels, doubled their efforts in the sewers due to the lack of opportunities on the surface.

Chapter 1: A Change of Pace

The wall clock ticked steadily, marking the passage of time as two men continued their conversation. Each second echoed in the room, the rhythm like a heartbeat.

On one side of the desk sat Salute Larks, the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Radiata Knights. A blonde-haired man with round glasses, he wore a knight's garb made of white linen and blue-dyed leather. Though middle-aged, his expression remained sharp, and his brow furrowed as he clasped his hands together.

Across from him sat Kael Kerrigan III, a young man of 27 years, adorned in the armor of a Royal Knight Captain. His navy blue and standard blue armor was polished to perfection, and his billowing white cloak was laced with gold. He sat upright, his posture perfect, with brown hair flecked with gray strands neatly gelled and combed to the right, the sides faded low. His well-groomed brown beard gave him an air of authority. On the table between them lay a folder, marked with strange characters, filled with various sheets of parchment.

Lord Larks smiled, his eyes closing briefly before he spoke.

"Again, I know this is an unusual offer, but it still stands. You are the most trusted for this position, and in my eyes, no one else could execute this operation better than you, Kael."

Kael flipped through the folder, pulling out papers, reading them, then setting them aside before moving on to the next.

"You want me to go undercover, sir?" Kael's voice was firm, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his words. "I don't believe that's a job I'm suited for. I'm a Royal Knight, not a master of espionage."

Larks chuckled softly as he reached for his cup of tea, the porcelain clinking gently against the saucer.

"What you'll be doing isn't espionage, Kael—not primarily," he said, lifting the cup to his lips. "You'll be conducting yourself as a soldier. Just in a different environment, with a more... focused set of targets."

Kael raised an eyebrow, still thumbing through the documents. "If I'm reading this correctly, I'm essentially going undercover as a nameless bounty hunter. Is that right?"

Larks nodded. "That's exactly right. The Royal Council has convinced His Majesty that the Blades of Infamy—those criminals running rampant beneath the city in the Path of the Spider—are now a top priority. With surface-level crime on the decline, we can finally turn our attention underground."

He opened the folder and spread out a collection of worn, grimy wanted posters across the desk, each one marked with a name, a sketch, and a reward.

"These individuals—each going by a moniker, epithet, or nickname—are symbols of the chaos below. Names meant to intimidate or glorify. A few of the more well-known ones include The Purple Rat, The White Princess, Stray Cat, Dark Claw, Shadowblade, The Crow, and The Dead Spirit."

Kael leaned forward slightly, eyes scanning the worn paper.

"The names I just read," Larks continued, "are a mix of high and mid-level threats. The most dangerous—and the most elusive—are often the quietest. But make no mistake: everyone on this list is a priority. Each one is to be investigated, engaged, and ultimately captured... or killed."

Kael looked up from the aged papers, his brow slightly furrowed.

"They actually want them killed? Even in a peacetime Radiata?"

"Especially during a peacetime Radiata," Larks replied, his tone firm. "It may seem drastic, but the lives of Radiata's citizens take precedence over those of remorseless assassins and killers."

Kael stroked his beard thoughtfully before responding.

"My Lord... I understand that some on this list—and possibly others—lean more toward thievery than assassination. Are they also marked for death?"

"Thieves? No," Larks said, shaking his head. "They're preferred alive—for interrogation, to uncover cache locations, stolen goods, Dagols, and so on. Assassins and murderers, however, may be captured or killed. The crown leans toward elimination, to send a message."

He laid another parchment on the desk.

"I assume flooding the sewers with more known knights or captains would provoke retaliation from the Void Community? Or, if not retaliation, then at least force them deeper into hiding, hampering the mission?"

"Precisely," Larks said with a nod, a faint smile curling his lips. "You have an astute understanding of the situation, Kael."

Kael paused in thought. "To avoid drawing attention to the Royal Knights, I imagine I'd be in disguise?"

"Yes," Larks said. "In fact, there's only one other person who knows of this mission—besides the King, the Council, and myself."

Kael tilted his head. "What civilian could be trusted with something like this?"

"Ursula," Larks answered. "Her expertise in golemcraft has led to new developments—modular weapons and armor, derived from her research. Custom gear, built for stealth and survival. She's personally requested to outfit you."

Kael leaned back and let out a quiet laugh. "I should've known."

"Are the two of you still in contact?"

"No, sir," Kael said, shaking his head. "We haven't spoken much since... the incident. Maybe once or twice, at most."

Larks began stacking the papers, sliding them back into the folder. His voice softened.

"The loss of Wolfgang von Hundheim was one of the greatest since Sir Cairn and Sir Gawain. You should be proud to have been his pupil—to carry on his legacy. He died a hero. And he always said you would grow to surpass him."

For a moment, Kael's hands tensed. Sweat formed at his brow. A flash of memory surged: flames licking the sky, huts and homes ablaze. Screams—some familiar, some not. Faces of friends flickered through his mind... then the bloodied face of Captain Wolfgang, mouth and shoulder drenched in crimson.

He shook his head, chasing the memory away.

"Not something I like to think about, sir."

Larks nodded solemnly and closed his eyes. "I understand. We all have our share of memories we'd rather not relive."

He looked up. "So then—your answer, Kael?"

Kael stood and saluted. "I'll undertake the task, sir."

Larks smiled. "Excellent. I'll have the orders drafted within the hour and personally deliver them to your quarters. Pack your things. Tonight, you'll be relocated to your new operating area. You are dismissed."

Larks stood and returned the salute.

Kael turned to leave, but Larks' voice called out from behind him.

"Remember—you can't draw attention. No Royal Knight insignia. No standard weapons or armor. You'll need to blend in. However... I do recommend wielding your former captain's sword. Famous among knights, but unknown to the general public. You still have it, I assume?"

Kael paused at the door, glancing back over his shoulder. "Yes. Yes, I do, sir."

"And Kael—Wolfgang was a great man. A great knight. A great friend. He thought highly of you. Never forget that."

Kael allowed himself a small grin. "Roger that, sir."